2015 United States Disc Golf Championship

[JC17393]

TDs sure. At Winthrop, there were slow open groups with two+ hole gaps in front of them. If the course director, they had 3 I believe, each responsible for 6 holes, put the group on the clock, the group would be given reason to call a slow player taking excessively long.

Volunteers should never have such a power.

Not entirely true. Course marshals (not directors) are empowered to make calls by the rule book (specifically Competition Manual section 1.11 D), they are only discouraged from actively making calls on things that affect only individual players within a group (like say stance violations) and can be construed as unfairly targeting one group/player over another.

However, when it comes to keeping the flow of traffic moving, so to speak, I think they are already empowered to do what is necessary within the confines of the rule book and Competition Manual. The pace of play rule in the Competition Manual (section 3.2) says that "[a]ll competitors shall play without undue delay and will make every effort to keep up with the group in front of them". If a group has two (or more) open holes in front of them, and they're not the lead card starting 30 minutes after everyone else, then who else but a course marshal is in position to speed them up?

 

[sidewinder22]

Wysocki plays fast.

 

[@iDiscGolf]

Wysocki plays fast.

MJ plays faster...

 

[DanJon]

There have been studies that prove your concentration level decreases after a few seconds.

Something like 2 seconds is the optimal time.

So I say let them take 30+ seconds.

They'll probably miss.

 

[kerplunk]

just now watching the final round.

Curious to know if Sexton has ever dropped his disc while doing his pre-shot flipping routine.
If so would that be considered to be a stroke

I was watching all that flipping and wondering how wet his disc was getting. I understand wanting to stick with your routine, but it seems like 10 seconds of flipping a disc before throwing it is not ideal when it is raining. His final round performance may speak to this, although obviously there was more going on there than wet discs. Maybe something for McSexy to work on during the offseason.

 

[kerplunk]

I haven't looked in a while but isn't there a distance factor specifically to address dropped discs?

I think that is related to practice throws, not dropped discs. A toss of over 2m (I think) is considered a practice throw. So tossing your disc a couple of feet to your bag isn't a stroke, but if it picks up and rolls 2m or more it is.

 

[BionicRib]

Nobody plays faster than Chris heron and Scotty burtard.

 

[cjman]

Not entirely true. Course marshals (not directors) are empowered to make calls by the rule book (specifically Competition Manual section 1.11 D), they are only discouraged from actively making calls on things that affect only individual players within a group (like say stance violations) and can be construed as unfairly targeting one group/player over another.

However, when it comes to keeping the flow of traffic moving, so to speak, I think they are already empowered to do what is necessary within the confines of the rule book and Competition Manual. The pace of play rule in the Competition Manual (section 3.2) says that "[a]ll competitors shall play without undue delay and will make every effort to keep up with the group in front of them". If a group has two (or more) open holes in front of them, and they're not the lead card starting 30 minutes after everyone else, then who else but a course marshal is in position to speed them up?

?? Yes, I am aware and agree with what you've elegantly written. My post was saying that it would be well within the marshals duty to give notice to a group that they need to keep up with the group in front of them. The TD could bring attention to it during the players meeting and everyone would be prepared.

This would make calling out slow players much easier on card mates. As mentioned previously, many players have the attitude that it doesn't matter since there are commonly backups ahead.

 

[BrotherDave]

I think 15s green is fine. The shot is to get even With the pin. Even with the pin you can be 40-60 feet out and still have a clean look at a putt. The goal is to not be short or long. Execute the shot and you'll get a look. Don't execute and you may or may not have a putt, but that's on you for being short or long. I'm fine with that

*puts basket on raft in middle of lake*

Just execute the shot guys.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

There have been studies that prove your concentration level decreases after a few seconds.

Something like 2 seconds is the optimal time.

So I say let them take 30+ seconds.

They'll probably miss.

ive pretty much given up any kind of magical putting routine due to this. Ill think about the putt before I get there a little then just step up and throw. Been working much better vs sitting there like a madman and still missing the damn putt.

 

[sidewinder22]

I enjoyed Schwebby's commentary, but he plays sloowww.

 

[tampora]

No proof, and no better than claiming the opposite.

Coming from someone who is forced to play S&D for 5 months of the year... YES, it is incredibly rough on your lower back to play that way all day.

 

[SD86]

The only way excessive time is going to be called is if someone actually steps up and calls it. None of these top players are interested in calling the rule, in part because they ALL like to take their time. Pretty sure it goes uncalled because of an unspoken quid pro quo amongst the players...if one guy calls it, he opens himself up to be called for excessive time himself.

Personally, I think one way to start would be to clarify whether or not the "clock" is reset by any distraction. To me, a literal interpretation of the rule as currently written says that there's no such thing as one's 30 seconds being reset or even paused once it begins. With that clarified, it would at least remove the "I was distracted" excuse for a player who takes 60-90+ seconds to make a throw.

The second step, especially at these larger events where there's plenty of staff and course marshals, is to put groups/players on the clock just like they do in ball golf. One warning about slow play then stopwatches come out and players are held to the 30-second clock when it's their turn to throw. Our competition manual has a section on pace of play and puts the enforcement of it on the TD and staff in addition to the players. For once, it would be nice if it was actually enforced.

I am wondering if they don't call it because they know they'll just run up the backs of the group(s) ahead if they do. Not making an excuse for it, but just wondering.

 

[SD86]

There have been studies that prove your concentration level decreases after a few seconds.

Something like 2 seconds is the optimal time.

So I say let them take 30+ seconds.

They'll probably miss.

I think I read somewhere that it's six seconds. (Maybe not) Coincidentally the same average amount of time that men think about sex.

 

[bikinjack]

About the pace of play, it was waayyy worse on Saturday than Friday for obvious reasons. Also, from my observations on hole five both days, the performance flight guys were way worse than the open guys both days. The reason there were back ups on five were because of the performance flight guys.

One of the side effects of the weather was the huge increase in "Tin Cup" moments on the last fairway segment on five throwing across the water. It seemed like every second or third card had somebody making five throws before they got across. The folks who had just made their drive just stood there watching, waiting on the card in front to clear out. It was a long, wet day.

 

[Pbmercil]

I am wondering if they don't call it because they know they'll just run up the backs of the group(s) ahead if they do. Not making an excuse for it, but just wondering.

That's the reason I've heard from multiple players. It's a poor excuse tho, because if lots of guys on the majority of cards were calling it there would be less of a backup factor.

I do think the round duration had more to do with conditions, the absurd number of throws guys had to make, and performance flight then pace of play

 

[cjman]

That's the reason I've heard from multiple players. It's a poor excuse tho, because if lots of guys on the majority of cards were calling it there would be less of a backup factor.

I do think the round duration had more to do with conditions, the absurd number of throws guys had to make, and performance flight then pace of play

They had performance playing in unsuitable conditions. The TD should have pulled perf off the course which would have allowed Open to finish on time.

The pros are to blame as well. There were up to hour long breaks between groups on 18. My friend was in a slow group, he was on 15 and saw the group in front of him driving out. That's like 90 minutes behind.

 

[SD86]

That's the reason I've heard from multiple players. It's a poor excuse tho, because if lots of guys on the majority of cards were calling it there would be less of a backup factor.

I do think the round duration had more to do with conditions, the absurd number of throws guys had to make, and performance flight then pace of play

The weather on the final day of USDGC made delays understandable. As to more general situations, I agree with those who suggest that TDs need to be more proactive in that rather than depend on players to police themselves and each other. I've been a chess tournament director for years, and know that the TDs really have to be proactive to keep tournaments on time and moving along. I imagine DG is similar.

 

[badsmurph]

Has anyone seen the payout

 

[Aim For The Chains]

I think I read somewhere that it's six seconds. (Maybe not) Coincidentally the same average amount of time that men think about sex.

Will you just stop posting?

I've been a chess tournament director for years, and know that the TDs really have to be proactive to keep tournaments on time and moving along. I imagine DG is similar.

This explains a lot... NVM carry on.